Support



March 9 1926.

F. M. PHELPS SUPPORT Filed April 20 1925 Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. PHELPS, F USK, WASHINGTdN.

surrom'.

Application filed April 20, 1925. Serial No. 24,439.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Usk, in Pond Oreille County and 'State of \Vashington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improved support of the vacuum cuptype for supporting in vertical position ornamental articles, cards,letters, photographs and other similar devices. The invention isparticularly adapted for use in connection with glass panels of windowsor with the glass panels of Windshields of automobiles. In the latterinstance the device is designed to support ornamental figures and otherinsignia and the vacuum cup employed for securing the support to theglass of the windshield is also utilized as a means for assisting inclamping or fastening the supported article in rigid position.

The invention. consists in certain novel combinations and arrangementsof parts in connection with the vacuum cup as will hereinafter be morefully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention where in the parts are combinedand arranged in accordance with the best mode I have thus far devisedfor the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Flgure 1 is a View showing in elevation a portion of a windshield of anautomobile with the support ofmy invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in sideelevation showing a portion of thesupport in section.

'Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective View of the support, showingthe lower portion of an ornamental card carried thereby.

Figure 4 is anenlarged view through the neck of the support showing thelatter. in section and the spring holding clip for the ornamental cardor article.

In order that the general arrangement of parts and the utility of thedevice may be -understood I have indicated as 1 a glass panel of anautomobile windshield, but it will be obvious that the device is adaptedfor use with other smooth surfaces and similar materials used for otherpurposes.

In carrying out my invention I employ a wedge shaped neck vacuum cup 2preferably of rubber in the form of a hollow circular disk with itsedges adapted to contact with the smooth'surface of the glass and beretained thereon by suction as indicated in Figure 2.

The cup is fashioned with an integral, 3 and an integral head 4preferably of circular shape and provided with an inner tapered face 5.Thus it will be seen that in addition to the wedge shaped neck 3 of thecup, a second wedge arrangement is provided between the head and thebody of the cup. The inner tapered face 5' of the head is arranged sothat the minimum thickness of the head is located at the upper end ofthe wedge shaped neck, which upper end is also the minimum thickness ofthe wedge shaped neck. And the maximum thickness of the wedge shapedneck is provided at the end of the neck adjacent the maximum thicknessof the head.

In connection with the vacuum-support I employ a spring clip made ofsuitable resilient metal and fashioned with a pair of retaining arms 6and 7 and an integral bend 8. In the lower end of the spring clip isfashioned a tapered or wedge shaped slot that extends through the lowerends of both arms of the clip and through the bend 8, said slot beingindicated as a whole by the numeral 9. This transversely extending slotof the clip is complementary to the shape of the wedge shaped neck ofthe cup and is adapted to slip over said neck with the walls of the slotin close frictional engagement therewith as indicated in Figure 4. Thetwo resilient arms of the clip it will be apparent are forced downbetween the inner, wedge face, of the head and the body of the cup, thussecuring the spring clip on the support by means of two wedge actionsexerted in planes at right angles. The slotted connection between' theclip and the neck hold the clip against lateral movement. and the wedgeaction between the head and body on the clip hold the clip from wobblingtoward the front or rear. In this manner the clip is detachably held onthe support.

One of the arms of the clip is provided with a stud pin 10 proj actingfrom its inner face toward the adjoining face of the other arm, and botharms of the clip, at their upper ends are curled or turned outwardly toform top guide edges for a card or article as 12. This article may be ofpasteboard and is shoved down between the two guide lips 11 in positionso that the stud pin may penetrate it as indicated in Figure 2. Thenwhen the clip with its retained card 'is slipped into position betweenthe head and body of the cup, the card is clasped between the resilientarms of the clip and held in position by the stud and the arms of theclip. Or the article supported may be of sheet metal with a perforationtherein for the stud 10, or other approved or desired forms or materialsmay be used for the ornamental article.

It will be apparent that the card or other article may be rigidlysupported and retained in upright position and its displacementprevented, and that theclip, although detachably carried by the support,is rigidly retained thereon against displacement.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a vacuum cuphaving a neck wedge shaped in cross, section,

having a neck wedge shaped in cross sec-' tion and a head having aninner tapered I face, of a spring clip having slotted arms to engageover said neck, one of said arms adapted to frictionally engage saidtapered face and the other arm adapted to frictionally engage the bodyof the cup.

3. The combination with a rubber vacuum cup having an integral,extending neck wedge shaped in cross section and an integral circularhead having an inner tapered face, of a spring clip having slotted armsto engage said neck, a retaining stud on one of said arms, and said armsadapted to engage said body and head with a wedge action. 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK M. PHELPS.

